Atlanta Irish Music School

Irish Music for Kids, Teens & Adults

Katherine Irwin Thomas: School Director, Ceili Band


Katherine Irwin Thomas holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree, a Masters of Education degree and her TTCT certification, an Irish traditional music teaching certificate from Comhaltas Ceoltóirí Éireann in Dublin, Ireland.   Orchestra director at Riverwood International Charter School for Fulton County Schools, Katherine specializes in Irish teaching Fiddle, Beginning Concertina and Ceili Band ensemble for AIMS.  She's was recently recognized as A Star of the South by Irish America Magazine and she's been featured in Irish Music Magazine and the AJC.  She was a speaker at the American String Teacher's Association's (ASTA) National Convention and the author of "How to Make Irish Music Sound Irish," for Strings Magazine.   Katherine started the Atlanta Junior Ceili Band in the spring of 2005 and is excited about it's growth and success. www.irwinthomasfiddle.com 


Classes: Concertina, Ceili Band Beginner, Ceili Band Intermediate, Ceili Band Advanced


Click here to email Katherine.




Gary White: Whistle


Gary White's interest in Irish music began when his daughter took up Irish Step dancing and he became a "Feis Dad."  He has been playing the Uilleann pipes since 2003 and the Whistle since 2001.  A former instructor for telecommunications classes, he holds a Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering and has taught Whistle workshops at Feisanna.  Gary is a founder of the South East Uilleann Piper's Club and organizes the Atlanta Tionol.  Gary has taken classes at Willie Clancy Week, multiple Tionols, Boston College's Gaelic Roots, and Swannanoa.  For questions regarding whistle or for private lessons, please email Gary.

Classes: Absolute Beginner Irish Whistle Child, Absolute Beginner Irish Whistle Adult, Beginner Irish Whistle Adult Level II

Click here to email Gary.

Jessica Sherwood: Flute


A classically trained flutist, Jessica Peek Sherwood has pursued an interest in the study of flute traditions from other cultures since college.  She attended the Boxwood Festival in Nova Scotia, Canada, for two summers.  At Boxwood, she worked with Irish flutists such as Chris Norman, Cathal McConnell, Patrick O’Gorman, and Rod Garnett.  She currently is a member of the Fr. O’Reilly Ceili Band.  In addition to her work with the Irish flute, she has studied other flutes and whistles from around the world, including those of Indonesia, China, Japan, Korea, Nigeria, and Native America.

Jessica has been active in sharing her musical interests with students of all ages.  She performed as a Young Audiences Artist from 2001 to 2004, introducing students to the science of music and to ethnic music from Asian and African cultures.  She is the director and coach of the wind chamber music program of the Georgia Youth Symphony Orchestra in Kennesaw, Georgia.  She has served on the faculties of the Flint Institute of Music (Flint, Michigan) and the Neighborhood Music Schools (a division of Georgia State University), where she taught flute lessons as well as coached the flute choir and chamber music programs.  She currently teaches a large studio of private flute students.

An active free-lance musician, Jessica has performed with the Atlanta, Alabama, Columbus, and Charleston Symphony Orchestras, as well as the Atlanta Opera Orchestra.  Jessica is a founding member of Sonic Generator—a new music ensemble-in-residence at Georgia Tech specializing in electro-acoustic contemporary music.  Additionally, she is a frequent performer with Thamyris New Music Ensemble.

Classes: Irish Flute Beginner Child, Irish Flute Intermediate Child, Irish Flute Adult

Click here to email Jessica.




Lauren McDonough: Fiddle



Lauren McDonough earned a bachelor of arts in Psychology and
Irish Studies at the University of Notre Dame, IN and is currently
working toward a PhD in Cognitive Psychology at Emory University.
Born in NY on St. Patrick’s Day, it was only fitting that she jump
into the Irish music scene with a passion.  She started fiddling at
age 10, and has taken lessons with various teachers across the US and
Ireland. She attributes much of her learning to riding the seisiún and
fleadh circuit during her time abroad on the Emerald Isle.  Some of
her favorite ‘gigs’ so far include an internship at Comhaltas
Ceoltóirí Eireann in Monkstown, Ireland; participating as a member of
Notre Dame’s Symphony Orchestra for four years including playing with
Dave Brubeck at ND, and the Chieftains at Carnegie Hall; fiddling at
the Atlanta Celtic Christmas Concert, and The Piedmont Driving Club
with 3 Chicks & a Chuck, and her current adventures around the greater
Atlanta area with the roguishly stylish, fantastically tuneful
Ballybeg Band (www.theballybegband.com)!  She is convinced that some
of the best music occurs with good friends on summer porches, around
evening bonfires, and below deck on ferryboats in the wee hours of the
morning.

Classes: Irish Fiddle

Email Lauren